Packaging device



March 24, 1953 R. G. BUCKLAND PACKAGING DEVICE 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed Oct. 8. 1949 BY fig/g? r ATTORNEYS March 24, 1953 R. G. BUCKLAND 2,532,381

PACKAGING DEVICE I Fild Oct. 8, 1949 2 SHEETS-Sl-IEE'I 2 I N gig INVENTOR mam-Oz gBu' ezamz ATTORN EYS Patented Mar. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE PACKAGING DEVICE Richard .G. Buckland, Pearis'burg, Va., 'assignor to Celanese Corporation of America,New York, N. Y., acorporation of Delaware Application October 8, 19469, Serial ,No. 120,363

4 Claims. 1

' Thlsinvention relates to a packaging device and relates more particularly to .an apparatus for closing cartons.

.As .is well known, .it .is commonin closing cartons made of corrugated paper, cardboard and similar materials to compress said cartons before they are sealed in the closed position. This reduces the size of the cartons and also consolidates the contents of said cartons so as to'minimize thepossibility of damage caused by the contents shifting about within the closed cartons. Heretofore, it has been the practice to compress the cartons by passing a band, such as :a steel strap, cord or the like, around the cartons and drawing the ends of said band to-- gether iuntilithe desired compression has been effected. In compressing the cartons in this manner, a localized force is applied to the external surfaces of vsaidcartons. This can, and usually does, result in damage to the cartons as well as to their contents.

"It is an important object of this invention to provide a packaging device which will be free from the foregoing and other disadvantages and which will'be especially simple in construction and efficient in use.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus for closingcartons wherein the cartons will be compressed to the closed position by means independent of the sealing means employed 'forholding the cartons in "the closed position.

' Other objects of this invention, 'togetherwith certain details of construction "and combinations of parts, will be apparent from the following de tailed description and claims. 7

.A preferred embodiment of my invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig'l'is an isometric view, showing thegeneral arrangement of the apparatus for closing cartons,

Fig.2 is a cross-sectional, detail View taken on the line 2--2 in Fig. 1 in'the direction of the arrows, and

Fig. 3*is a cross-sectional, detail view taken on the line 33 in Fig. 1 in the direction-of the-arrows.

Referring now to the drawings,'the reference numeral l I designates "generally a roller conveyor along which icarton's i2 that have been filled, but not yet closed, are transported :to a conveyor section, indicated generally 'b reference numeral 13. At the conveyor section 13, the cartons 12 are compressed and secured in the closed position, following which the closed cartons are removed from the conveyor section 13 along a roller, conveyor, indicated generally by reference numeral 14. While cartons .oflany type may be compressed :and secured in the closed position with the apparatus ofmy invention, it will 'be described with particular reference torta carton comprising an inner tubular liner I5 over which are telescoped a .lowercap is and an upper cap ll, which caps l6 and III abut each other when the carton is properly (closed. In Fig. 31 of the drawings, alcarton I2 that has not yet been compressed and sealed in the'closed position, its caps l6 and I! "still being spaced from each otheni's shown on the roller conveyor H, and a carton :12 that has been compressed and sealed in the closed position so that its caps l6 and IT abut each other is shown on the conveyor section '13.

The conveyor section I 3 comprises .a supporting plate is that 'is mounted on abracket 19 located centrally :of 'saidplate. .A pin 2 projects downwardly fromthe bracket l9 into a substantially tubular pedestal 22, permitting the supporting plate Hi to be rotated freely in a horizontal plane. "The supporting plate it is adapted to rest on platforms 23 carriedb channel-iron brackets "24., which platforms 23 serve to prevent tilting and "rocking of the supporting plate 18 when filled cartons 12 are placed on the conveyor section l3 and when said cartons are being "compressed.

The supporting plate I8 is provided with a plurality of locating apertures 2'5 extending 'therethrough, which are engaged by a pin "25 of va foot-operated .stop, indicated generally by reference numeral 22', to'locate the conveyor :section I3 properly with respect-to the roller conveyors H and "I4. .As shown, tlielocating apertures 25 are positioned to be engaged by :the pin 126 .for every 190 degrees of rotationof the supporting plate 18. The foot-operated stop "'21 comprises a tubularv sleeve 28 supported on a stand 29 and havinga plunger 3!, carrying the pin 25, slidably mounted therein. "The plunger 3| is urged upwardly by a spring 3'2 so as to bring the pin 26 into engagement with aperture 25. To move the plunger 31 downwardly and release the pin 25 from engagement with aperture 25, there is 'provided a foot-operated pedal 33, which 'extends'through a slot 34 inithe walls of the tubular sleeve 28 and is fastened to said plunger 3.1.

Mounted 'on the supporting plate It are two parallel roller conveyors, indicated generally by reference numerals :and tfiyeach of which comprises a pair of-angle-iron supports '31 having conveyors rolls "38 positioned therebetween.

Also mounted on the supporting plate 18, adjacent both ends of the roller conveyors 35 and 3B, are pairs of brackets 39 having conveyor rolls 4| positioned therebetween. The brackets 39 are spaced apart a distance less than the spacing between the angle-iron supports 31 and the conveyor rolls 4| are shorter than the conveyor rolls 38 so as to provide an adequate clearance between said conveyor rolls 4| and said conveyor rolls 38 and the roller conveyors H and I4 as conveyor section 13 is rotated.

Positioned centrally above the conveyor sec tion I3 is a platen 42 having a lower surface of extended area for contacting the carton 12. The

platen 42 is fastened to the free end of a piston rod 43 carried in a fluid-operated cylinder 44 supported by a framework 45, said platen being restrained from rotation by a pair of guide rods 45, which are fastened thereto, and extend through sleeves 47 carried by the framework 45. Fluid for operating the cylinder 44 is supplied thereto under a pressure indicated by a pressure, gauge 48, from any suitable source (not shown) through a conduit 45, having operatively connected thereto a pressure regulating valve a shut-off valve 52and a two-way valve 53, which permits the fluid to flow under pressure either into the top of the cylinder 44 through a line 54 for moving the platen 42 toward the conveyor section [3, or into the base of the cylinder 44 through a line 55 for moving the platen 42 away from the conveyor section l3.

In operation, the conveyor section I3 is rotated until the roller conveyors 35 and 36 are aligned with the roller conveyor I l, i. e. through an angle of 90 degrees from that shown in the drawings, at which point the pin 23 will engage one of the apertures 25. A carton l2 which has been filled, but not yet closed or sealed, is moved from the roller conveyor ll onto the conveyor section l3,

the pin 25 is released from the aperture 25 by depressing the pedal 33, and the conveyor section It is rotated through an angle of 90 degrees, i. e. to the position shown in the drawings so that the roller conveyors 35 and 36 are at right angles to the roller conveyor II, the pin 26 once more engaging one of the apertures 25. The valve 53 is now operated to introduce fluid under pressure into the cylinder 44 through the conduit 54 so as to move the platen 42 toward the conveyor section I3, thereby compressing the carton l2 to the closed position, i. e. to the position where the edges of the open ends of the caps I6 and I! are in abutting relation. Since the pressure applied to the fluid-operated cylinder 44 is maintained constant by the pressure-regulating valve 5 l, the

force applied by the platen 42 to the carton l2 Will also remain constant. As a result, all the cartons I2 will be subjected to a uniform degree of compression, which is not the case where the cartons 12 are compressed by manually applying tension to a band encircling said cartons. In addition, since the carton I2 is contacted over an extended area by the platen 42 and by the conveyor rolls 38 of the roller conveyors 35 and 35, therewill be no localized forces applied to the external surfaces of said carton during the compression thereof and no tendency to damage either the carton or its contents. When the carton I2 is fully compressed the end of a strap 55 is introduced into a groove 51 in the under surface of the platen 42. The strap 53, after passing through the groove 51, feeds into a funnel-shaped guide 58 having a slot 59 wider than said strap extending the full length thereof. The funnelshaped guide 58 directs the strap 56 into a channelled guide 6|, which is normally closed by means of a plate 62 mounted on spring hinges 63 that urge the plate 62 into a closed position as shown in full lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The plate 62 acts to prevent the strap 56 from slipping out of the guide 5| as it passes therethrough. The lower end 64 of the guide BI is curved and directs the strap 55 into a channelled guide 65 extending across the supporting plate l8 between the roller conveyors and 36. After the strap 56 has completely encircled the carton i 2, the ends thereof are drawn together to eliminate all slack therefrom. This will pull the strap 56 through the slot 59 in the funnel-shaped guide 53 and will also move the plate 52 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings, permitting the strap to leave the guide 3! and contact the walls of the carton l2. When all the slack has been eliminated from the strap 55, the ends thereof are drawn together by means of a suitable tool and are connected by a clip 66, thereby holding the carton !2 in its closed position. The valve 53 is then operated to introduce fluid under pressure into the cylinder 44 through the conduit 55 so as to move the platen 42 away from the conveyor section l3. The pedal 33 is depressed to disengage the pin 28 from the aperture 25, permitting the conveyor section l3 to be rotated freely as a gummed tape BI is applied around the carton 12, at the position where the upper and lower caps l6 and I1 abut, to seal said carton against the access of dust and dirt. The conveyor section i3 is then rotated until the roller conveyors 35 and 35 are aligned with the roller conveyor l4 and the car.- ton i 2 is removed from. the conveyor section l3 along the roller conveyor l4.

It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is given merely by way of illus-.- tration and that many variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus for closing cartons, the combination with means for supporting cartons, of a platen, pressure means for urging said platen toward said supporting means for compressing said cartons to a closed position, the carton contaoting surface of the platen having a groove therein for the passage of a band for securing the cartons in said closed position, a guide member positioned adjacent to said groove in the platen when said platen is in position for receiving the band as it passes from the groove in said platen, a second guide member attached to said first guide member and extending therefrom towards said supporting means, and a third guide member positioned to receive the band from the second guide member and to direct the band across said supporting means, whereby the band is guided around the cartons and tightened about said cartons without releasing said pressure means. i

2. In an apparatus for closing cartons, the combination with means for supporting cartons, of a platen, pressure means for urging said platen toward said supporting means for compressing said cartons to a closed position, the carton contacting surface of the platen having a groove therein for the passage of a band for securing said cartons in the closed position, a funnelshaped guide member having a slot Wider than the band positioned to receive a band as it passes from the groove in said platen, a channeled guide member extending from said funnel-shaped guide member toward said supporting means, and another channeled guide member positioned to receive the band from said first channeled guide member and to direct said band across said supporting means, whereby the band is guided around the cartons and tightened about the cartons without releasing said pressure means.

3. In an apparatus for closing car-tons, the combination with a conveyor section having roller conveyors thereon for supporting said cartons, of a platen, pressure means for urging said platen toward said conveyor section for compressing aid cartons to a closed position, the face of the platen which contacts said cartons having a groove therein for the passage of a band for securing said cartons in said closed position, a funnel-shaped guide member having a slot wider than said band extending the full length thereof positioned to receive the band from the groove in said platen, a channelled guide member extending from said funnel-shaped guide member toward said conveyor section, means yieldably closing said channelled guide member to keep said band from slipping out of said channelled guide member, and another channelled guide member positioned to receive said band from said first channelled guide member and direct said band across the conveyor section, whereby said band is guided around said cartons and may be tightened against said cartons Without releasing said pressure means.

4. In an apparatus for closing cartons, the combination with a rotatable conveyor section having a pair of parallel roller conveyors thereon for supporting said cartons, of a platen, a fluidoperated cylinder operatively connected to said platen for urging said platen toward said conveyor section for compressing said cartons to a closed position, the face of the platen Which contacts said cartons having a groove therein for 6 the passage of a band for securing said cartons in said closed position, a funnel-shaped guide member having a slot wider than said band extending the full length thereof positioned to receive the band from the groove in said platen, a channelled guide member extending from said funnel-shaped guide member toward said conveyor section, a plate yieldably closing said channelled guide member, another channelled guide member positioned between the spaced roller conveyors of said conveyor section to receive said band from said first channelled guide member and direct said band across the conveyor section whereby said band is guided around said cartons and may be tightened against said cartons without releasing said pressure means, a roller conveyor for transporting cartons to said conveyor section, a roller conveyor for removing cartons from said conveyor section, and a footoperated stop for stopping said rotatable conveyor section with the roller conveyors on said rotatable conveyor section parallel to or at right angles to said roller conveyors.

RICHARD G. BUCKLAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 956,387 Magson Apr. 26, 1910 1,055,022 Dear Mar. 4, 1913 1,394,028 Kring Oct. 18, 1921 1,436,055 Shay Nov. 21, 1922 1,448,790 Chandler Mar. 20, 1923 1,469,797 Leslie Oct. 9, 1923 2,300,511 Lamb Nov. 3, 1942 2,420,413 Branson May 13, 1947' FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 340,439 Great Britain Jan. 1, 1931 

